Vote to legalize marijuana pushed back in Alaska

Citizens in Alaska are going to have to wait a little longer than previously expected before they can vote on a ballot initiative that would legalize recreational marijuana use, according to a new report by Reuters.

Although residents were originally scheduled to vote on the
ballot in August, they will now decide on the issue in November.
Since incumbent Democratic Sen. Mark Begich is also up for
reelection at this time, it is believed the new date may actually
help the measure pass more easily.

According to Alaska Public Media, the delay was necessary due to
the fact that the state’s most recent legislative session lasted
longer than it usually does. Since ballot initiatives can only be
put to a vote at least 120 days after a session ends, state
officials had to push the voting date into the fall to
accommodate for the constitutional rule.

If the measure passes, Alaska would become the third state in the
US to legalize recreational marijuana use, joining Colorado and
Washington state. The proposal would allow anyone 21-years and
older to possess up to one once of pot and grow up to six
cannabis plants for their own private use.

As in Colorado and Washington, the measure would also establish
guidelines for a system to tax and regulate commercial pot sales
across the state. As RT reported earlier this year, the ballot calls
for Alaska to impose a tax of $50 per ounce, but would also
permit local governments to add additional taxes.

Currently, any resident found to be possessing marijuana is
subject to up to 90 days in jail and a $2,000 fine.

Speaking to Reuters, marijuana campaign spokesman Taylor
Bickford, whose organization supports the initiative, downplayed
the delay. Past polls have shown the majority of Alaskans are in
favor of legalizing pot, and Bickford expects that consensus to
hold in the fall.

"The date of the election is a non-issue for us because we
know that Alaska voters support regulating marijuana like alcohol
by a wide margin under either scenario," Bickford said.
“We are confident Ballot Measure 2 will prevail in
November."

Anti-pot advocates, however, such as Deborah Williams and the
group "Big Marijuana. Big Mistake. Vote No On 2,” claim the more
people discover about the situation in Colorado, the more likely
they are to defeat the ballot.

"Every additional week that we have to learn from Colorado's
experience we think is very important for Alaskans and will
result in an increasing number of no votes on this
legislation," she told Reuters.